Shelf bracket support for adjustable and releasable shelving



May'l8, 1943 4 F. KAUTZ 2,319,237

SHELF BRACKET SUPPORT FOR ADJUSTABLE AND RELEASABLE SHELVING Filed- Aug.7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 18, 1943 F. KAUTZ 2,319,237

I SHELF BRACKET SUPPORT FOR ADJUSTABLE AND RELEASABLE SHELVI NG FiledAug. 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 18, 1943' SHELF BRACKETSUPPORT FOR ADJUST- ABLE AND RELEASABLE SHELVIN G Frederick Kautz,Philadelphia, Pa. Application August '7, 1941, Serial N0. 405,872

10 Claims.

This invention relates to shelving and more particularly to supportthereof, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements andcombinations herein described and claimed.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide shelf supportingseats in superposed, spaced relation, pairs of the seats cooperating forsupport and detachable retention of respective shelf brackets.

It is also an object of the invention to provide seat structures whichmay be readily secured to a stud by simple welding operations, the seatbeing of such contour as to function in a manner to afford support ofsuperposed shelving.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a seat and shelfstructure having interengaging means for simultaneously securing theparts together in assembled relation and hold the shelf againstdisplacement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a seat structurein which the shelf is held firmly against sidewise displacement.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a seat structureconstructed so as to support shelf bracket arms upon opposite sides of astudding.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a seatstructure which will afford full support of a shelf bracket at its loadsustaining end and having means permitting manual release of the bracketfrom the seat.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will beapparent from the following description considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a shelf seatinstalled upon a stud and showing portion of shelving supported by theseats.

;- Figure 2 is an end view of a modification of the seat formation.

Figure 3 is a similar view of a further form of the seat. r

Figure 4 is a view illustrating a modification of the seat shown inFigure 3.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of a further form of the seat structure.

Figures 6 and '7 are end elevations illustrating further forms of theseat.

Figure 8 is an end elevation of a still further form of shelf seat.

Figure 9 illustrates a construction seat for support of a shelf upon oneside of a studding.

' Figure 10 is a perspective view of a modification the'i's eatillustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of a further construction of a shelf seat.

Figures 12 and 13 are end elevations of seat structures, employingangular anchor lugs, being modifications of the forms shown in Figures 5and 7.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a modified formof that shown in Figure 1.

Figures 15 and 16 are fragmentary perspective views illustrating theapplication of modified forms of seats as installed between opposedstuds or supports.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a form of seatas installed between two angular support or stud members.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating an applicationof seats between the framing of screen panels.

While I have illustrated numerous forms of the invention, it will beapparent that the essential features of the invention reside in anupright support having shelf seats arranged in superposed spacedrelation, the seats being so positioned and constructed that a shelfbracket may be interposed between portions of a pair of the seats forretention of the shelf bracket.

Referring to the drawings, certain of the figures illustrate an uprightsupport upon which the seats and shelves are secured, but it will beunderstood that in actual practice, a plurality of sup:- ports will beemployed arranged in a row at spaced intervals, the number of suchsupports depending upon the length of the shelf to be sustained.

In Figure there is illustrated an upright angle stud 10 having aplurality of shelf bracket seats I] secured thereto, preferably bywelding,

as indicated at l2.

The bracket seats are formed from a continuous flat strip bar, bentinwardly of respective ends to present angularly disposed extensions I3beneath the planiform face I4, the extensions the vertical plane of theupright and to respective sides thereof.

A portion of shelf I6 is shown having a support arm H, the free end ofwhich is provided with an upstanding nib l8. The arm l! is of a widthequal to the distance between the planiform face I4 of one seat to thedownwardly presented lugs of the seat next above,

To install the shelving to uprights it is only necessary to present thearms H to the faces I4 and lift the front edge of the shelf so that thenibs I8 may pass beneath the lugs IS. The shelf may now be allowed tocome to rest upon the face when the nibs |B will firmly contact the lugs5. The arms ll of the shelf will be so spaced as to lie flat against thesupport Ill to prevent endwise movement and the faces M of the seats areof such length as to project substantial distances beyond the verticaledges of the upright, affording ample support to the shelf arm.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the shelving will be securelylocked to the supporting structure against accidental withdrawal, yetthe shelving may be manually released when desired by merely elevatingthe front end of the shelf so that the nibs may pass beneath the lugs.

The nibs l8 are preferably formed upon the arms by welding small slugsthereto, it being found that this is less costly than forming the nibsintegrally with the arms, although the latter practice may be followedif desired.

At the uppermost portion of the uprights I 0, a pair of auxiliary lugsl9 are secured, by welding, vertically aligned with the lugs l5, andcooperate with the uppermost shelf seat for support of a shelf whendesired.

By the construction presented it will be apparent that the main strainexerted upon a shelf will be absorbed between the planiform face l4 andthe lugs l5 and since the extensions |3 from the lugs are angularlydisposed great reinforcement to the shelf seats are involved, and thisis further augmented since the thrust of the load is along a linelongitudinally of the lugs I5.

The lugs i5 of the seats are spaced apart in order to accommodate shelfarms when they are presented from opposite sides of the support, as willbe apparent.

The structure of Figure 2 is similar to that of Figure 1, except thatthe shelf seat II is formed of three separate strips I3 and I4 beingwelded at their points of contact. Also the strip I4 is given a slightangular bend at its medial portion and is of lesser thickness than thediagonal strips i3 and the lugs I5. Since the strips I3 will support themain strains and stresses, this construction permits the construction ofextra strong bracket seats, and at a saving in material.

In Figure 3 the lugs 20 are shown in a diverging angular manner, therebybeing disposed in oblique relation to the support. -In this instance,the shelf arms 2| will be devoid of nibs and in their stead an angularnotch will be formed in i 4 the arms to accommodate the lugs.

In Figure 4 the lugs 22 are reversely formed with respect to those shownin Figure 3, presenting a V-shaped lug formation, and the shelf arms 2|will therefore be formed with a correspondingly shaped notch.

The form shown in Figure 5 provides triangular terminations 22 to thelugs complemental to similarly shaped notches formed in the shelf arms.

In Figures 6 and 7 the diagonal arms 23 con- In these instances angularbar members 33 are verge to such extent that the lugs 24 are broughtinto mutual contacting engagement at a vertical axis of the supportmember. The ends of the lugs 24 of Figure 6 are shown as square toaccommodate a shelf arm as in Figure 1, while the lugs of Figure 7 aretriangularly shaped. In the use of these forms of seats, the shelf arms25 extended from opposite sides are overlapped as shown.

In Figure 8, the shelf seat 26 is formed substantially in the form of atriangle, the vertex of which forms the anchor lug for engaging a shelf,as in Figure 7.

In such cases where shelving is required only upon one side of thesupport members, the structure of Figure 9 may be followed. In thisinstance a single anchor lug 21 is required, and it will be noted thatthe shelf seat is in reality, but one-half of the seat illustrated inFigure 1.

Where greater strength and rigidity is required in the shelf seats,these may be formed from channel bar stock as shown in Figure 10.

In Figure 11 the shelf seat is formed from a single strip of metal bentto a desired shape so that one diverging arm 28 contacts and is weldedto the face plate 29 as at 30. The lugs 3| in. this instance, are weldedto a bridge portion 32 of the seat.

The structures of Figures 12 and 13 provide for anchor lugs havinggreater contacting areas than is provided in the previous formsdescribed.

welded to the extremities of the diverging arms 34.

A channel beam 35 is illustrated in Figure 14, as the upright support,the shelf seats 36 being similar to those shown in Figure 1, but inaddition, the diverging arms 31 are formed with notches 38 next adjacentthe beam for accommo dation of the shelf arm fiat against the beam. Thisarrangement eliminates sidewise movement of the shelf.

The structures of Figures 15 and 16 embody opposed flat bars 39 as thesupport member, with the shelf seats interposed and fixed therebetween.In Figure 15 the bars 39 are shown as directly opposite one another,while in Figure 16 the bars 39 ale in shifted transverse positions.

Angle bars '40 may be employed as the supporting member as shown inFigure 17.

In Figure 18 there is shown an example of the adaption of shelf seats 4|between frame members 42 of screen panels.

In Figures 2 to 9 and 1-1 to 13 the planiform portion of the seats havetheir outer edges slight-'- ly higher than the medial portion forming adihedral angle, functioning to reinforce the seats, as well as tocounteract any tendency of the shelves to sag.

While I have shown and specifically described the various constructionsof the invention this is by way of illustration only and I "consider asmy own all such modifications in structure as fairly fall within thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a support for shelving, an upright support member having a flatface, vertically spaced seat members fixed to the face, each seat havinga pair of spaced downwardly extended portions stopping short of the seatmember immediately therebelow, a pair of shelf arm adapted to beinserted from opposite horizontal sides of the support member forseatingengagement with one of the 'seatm'embers, said arms lying flush againstthe flat' face of the support member, and

being of a height to engage respective downwardly extended portions, andinter-locking means between the arms and downwardly extended portions.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the interlocking means consists ofa pointed lug and a complemental triangular recess.

3. In a support for shelving, an upright support member having a flatface, vertically spaced seat members fixed to the face, each seatcomprising a horizontal planiform portion and a pair of spaceddownwardly extended portions positioned adjacent the vertical axi of thesupport member, the downwardly extended portions stopping short of theseat member immediately therebelow, a pair of shelf arms adapted to beinserted from opposite horizontal sides of the support member forseating engagement with the horizontal planiform portion of one of theseat members, said arms lying flush against the flat face of the supportmember, and being of a height to engage respective downwardly extendedportions, and inter-locking means between the arms and the downwardlyextended portions.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which the downwardly extended portionsinclude a lug positioned in a plane vertical to the longitudinal axis ofthe support member.

5. The structure of claim 3 in which the downwardly extended portionsinclude a lug positioned in a plane at an angle to the vertical axis ofthe support member.

6. The structure of claim 3 in which the horizontal planiform portion ofeach seat is of a length so as to extend beyond the vertical edges ofthe support member a substantial distance.

7. In a support for shelving, an upright support member, verticallyspaced seat members fixed to the support member, each seat member havinga portion located transversely to the upright support member and havinga downwardly extended portion stopping short of the seat memberimmediately therebelow, said seat members being of a length so as toextend beyond the vertical edges of the support member and having aslight inclination in an upward direction from a point adjacent thevertical axis of the support member, and a shelf arm positioned upon oneseat of a height to engage the downwardly extended portion of the nextadjacent seat.

8. In a support-for shelving, a pair of spaced upright members havingopposed faces, vertically spaced seat members fixed between the faces ofthe upright members, each seat having a portion transverse of theupright members, said transverse portion being of a length so as toextend beyond the vertical edges of the upri h members, each seat memberhaving a downwardly extended portion stopping short of the seat memberinmiediately therebelow, and a shelf arm position upon the transverseportion of one seat,

of a height to engage the downwardly extended portion of the nextadjacent seat.

9. In a support for shelving, an upright support member, verticallyspaced seat members fixed to the support member, each seat membercomprising a piece of shaped stock material having a substantiallyhorizontal portion located transversely to the upright support memberand a downwardly extended sup-porting brace portion terminating in a lugmember and of a length stopping short of the seat member immediatelytherebelow, said lug member being located adjacent the longitudinal axisof the upright support member and downwardly from the outer extremity ofsaid transverse portion, and a shelf arm positioned upon one seat, of aheight to engage the downwardly extended portion of the next adjacentseat.

10. In a support for shelving, an upright support member, verticallyspaced seat members fixed to the support member, each seat membercomprising a piece of shaped bar stock having a substantial width and anarrow thickness including a portion located transversely to the uprightsupport member and further having a downwardly extended portion stoppingshort of the seat member immediately therebelow, said downwardlyextended portion being disposed in substantially diagonal relation tosaid transverse portion and receding from the outer extension towardsthe vertical axis of the support member, the width of the bar beingplaced in a plane at a right angle to the upright support member, and ashelf arm positioned upon the seat, of a height to engage the downwardlyextended portion of the next adjacent seat.

FREDERICK KAUTZ.

